Car-coupling.



G. H. STARK.

. GAR COUPLING.

APPLICATION FILED JAN-27, 1911. v 1,023,444. Patented Apr. 16, 1912.

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, (harks ff G H. STARK.

GAR COUPLING.

APPLIGATIDN FILED JAN.27, 1911.

Patented Apr. 16, 1912.

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- plers,'of which the following is a specifica- TES err

CHARLES H. STARK, OF STRASBURG, VIRGINIA.

CAR-COUPLING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 16, 1912.

Application filed January 27, 1911. Serial No. 604,939.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES H. STARK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Strasburg, in the county of Shenandoah and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Car-Couvtion, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to improvements in car couplers and has for its primary objectthe provision of a coupler which will be to the greatest possible extent automatic in its operation, thereby to eliminate those dam gers of personal injury always inherent in any necessity requiring manual manipulation of coupling members between adjoining cars.

I am aware that heretofore, particularly in the Janney 'type of couplers, practical success-has been obtained to a large extentby'reason of provisions for automatic conl I u I c l pling, but it is qulte frequent that even with the commonly approved or standard type of such coupler the members of approaching cars have to be manually alined to bring theminto proper registration for the automatic coupling referred to. Ditficulty has been experienced in obtaining automatic coupling of adjoining cars fitted with standard couplers unless one'of the knuckles isin open position. To overcome these ditlicultics it has previously been suggested that couplers of what might be said to be unique or distinct type possessing complicated parts, or delicate mechanism, or excessive use of loose or pivoted members and springs, might be employed, but such suggestions I believe have neither been carried into ctt'ect or regarded as practical. In this art it is well recognized that the component, parts of railway equipment have become stand ardized, that is in keeping with the approval of the ll'l'astcr Car Builders Association to insure maximum safety, and to facilitate the cooperation of specifically different devices.

llaving all of the foregoing considerations in mind it has been my aim to provide a car coupler strictly in keeping with the standard type or style, specifically in this instance the Janney type of coupler, which will possess improved characteristics enabling the automatic coupling of the opposite members of the coupler irrespective of the relative positions of the knuckles of said members, so that they may be brought into mutual cooperating or interlocking engagement even when both knuckles are closed at the time they approach each other in the coupling operation; also to enable my im- .proved coupler to operatively cooperate with any other standard coupler of the style named now in use; also to enable the cou plings to engage within a wider range or greater disalinement than heretofore.

The preferred embodiment of my invention possesses many improved features so far as detail arrangements are concerned which might be here broadly defined, but these will be more readily understood from the specific description thereof hereinafter contained when read in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part hereof and wherein such embodiment of the-invention is illustrated.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved coupler in uncoupled condition, Fig. 2 is a similar view of the same in coupled condition, Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the manner of coupling the coupling members when one knuckle is open and the other closed, Fig.4 is a similar vlew showing the manner of coupling said members when both knuckles are closed, parts being broken away to show the interior construction, Fig. 5 is a longitudinal vertical.

sectional view through one of the coupling members, Fig. (3 is a similar horizontal section, Fig. 7 illustrates how the parts engage when the coupling members are shifted laterally one relative to the other to prevent separation thereof, Fig. 8 is an end view of one of the coupling members, and Figs. 9 and 10 are respectively, detail perspective views of one of the knuckles and the locking pin.

Referring more spcciii'ally to the drawings wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views, A represents the usual draw-bar mounted in any convenient or approved manner upon the car structure not necessary familiar in this art. The knuckle has the customary inner beveled extension 0 adapted to cooperate with a correspondingly beveled locking pin 1) provided with the usual locking shoulder (1 adapted to lie in front of the At one side of'the longitudinal center of the draw bar A, I provide an elongated 1 pocket 0 way E closed at its rear end. The pocket r way is of angularicross section and is designed to constitute a guide and holder for a correspondingly angular plunger orstem F adapted to slide, therein against the pressure'of an outwardly thrust ing spring G inserted in the. pocket, abutting at one end against the .end wall ofthe pocket and at its "oppositeend againstthe end of the plunger. A removable pin f engaging the stem or plunger and Working in an elongated slot a in the sideof'the draw bar prevents excessive outward movement of the plunger; i

. The. draw head B- is recessed, as M1), for the accommodation of a plunger head F, this head curving inwardly on its exposed surface as illustrated, toward the curved edge Lb of the draw head, andat its end extending outwardly to approximately the plane of the outer surface 0 of the knuckle. This surface of the knuckle is rounded in- Wardly to a substantial extent so as to guide the corresponding knuckle engaging therewith thereover and inwardly toward'. the projecting endof the plunger head, as i1lus-,

trated in Fig. 4. formed to, project bodily inwardly, 2153i. 0, to constitute substantial hooks as. distin{ guished from the usual flat inside surfaces, so that when the couplers are engaged it will rate, as clearly shown in Fig. 8, wherein will be seen that whcn'the coupling members arc'relativcly shifted the hook portions of the knuckles contact at opposite contact points between the curved end of one of the draw heads and th'epivot end of theiothcr knuckle. v

By reference toFig. 4, it will be seen that the coupling members approaching, whether in exact alinemcnt or not, will in their advancing movement ride, over the rounded surfaces of the knuckles, and the knuckles and the ends of the spring pressed plungcrs, the continued advancing movement will force the plungers to 'recede when the pivot [ends ofthe draw; heads will-engage the 0 curved inner edges of the opposite draw heads-and cause the same to=mutually ride I downwardly and inwardly until the knuckles are hooked together, when the plu'ngers will be thrust outwardly and constitutecan efi'econ barrier against excessive relative lateral angles, to the direction of movement of the The knuckles are also.

be impossible to turn them into any position to permit said. hooks to accidentally scpa-..

=of the car.

becomihg centered between the ends thereof "Yard and b nd each'other.'-j.--L"

movement of the couplingsmembers, it being observedthat the inner surfaces of the plunger heads approximate a .posit-ion'somewhat parallel to the longitudinalfaxesf offthef draw-bars so that the pressure'ofthe CQllt' Q plers thereagainst is at approximately-right plungers,'thus preventingthe knuckles fr accidentally forcing back the plungersi- While the foregoing constitutes 'an e fii t cient coupler, I provide other instrumentalities which are largely a precautionary means to meet any 'exigency that might arise, for example, the breaking of one of the plunger heads. Said .means comprises an engagement between the inner face of each of the} plungers' and the adjacent face of the cou" pling pins, represented at and consisting in forming undulatory or roughened pore, tions on those members adapted to engage when the couplers are under pulling strains which latter pullout wardly theouter ends of the knuckles to the greatest extent, rock-o ingthe inner extensionsof the knuckl'es'on the pivotsrand forcing said extensions in en- 9Q gageinent with the locking pins, which being loose or having usualplayintheir recesses will be correspondingly bodily forced over into engagement withthe adjacent faces of the plungers, thus securing the interlocking between the pins and theplungersand preventing any rearward movement of the latter It will be understood that when the pulling strain isreleased and the coupling members uncoupled the pins may slip away .104 from the plunger's and permit the action of thelatter.- Y

Any convenient means may be provided for thepurpose of raising the coupling pins to,

release the knuckles when it is desired to un-. couple the cars, one such means comprising a fulcrum J on the draw head and a belt crank lever Ljpivoted thereto, ,havingits horizontal arm extending inwardly through an eye on the lower end of the pin andthe vertical arm extending upwardly for connection with suitable link or other operating connecting de'vices'extending outwardly in convenient access for an operator at theside.

' While Ihave herein referred to the curved edges of the draw head as the meansfor guiding the knuckles inwardly towardjeaoh other to insurethe'coupling operation, it is obvious that the plungers being thrust'ont-' 'wardly by their s rings as soon as the knuckles have passe each otherin'the cou pling operation, will also materiall facili-fm late the ap reaching 'of the knuc ties-to;

skilled, in theart that=- many ehanges and-H lfi I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

-1.-A car coupler of the character described comprising a draw bar and a recessed head, a pivoted knuckle in said head, a yieldable plunger adjacent to and opposite the knuckle adapted to move longitudinally of the draw bar and projecting beyond the complementary knuckle when coupled, and a coupling pin for holding the knuckle in coupled position, said coupling pin and plunger being provided with portions adapted to int'erengage to prevent lon-' gitudinal movement of the plunger.

2. A coupler of the character described comprising a draw bar and recessed head, a knuckle pivoted to said head, a yieldable plunger mounted on the draw bar and arranged opposite to said pivoted knuckle, a

pin arranged to lie in the path of a portion of said knuckle to'hold the same in closed position, and interengaging portions be tween the pin and plunger for locking the plunger against longitudinal movement.

3. A car coupler of the J anney type comprising a draw bar, a pivoted knuckle, a longitudinally yieldable plunger opposite the knuckle adapted to recede to permit entering of a complementary coupling memher, a locking pin positioned along side ofr said yieldable plunger and movable to a position to lie in the path of the tail of the knuckle to hold the knuckle in closed position, said locking pin having a lateral play whereby as the knuckle is placed under strain the locking pin will be moved into engagement with said yieldable plunger to prevent longitudinal movement thereof.

4:. A car coupler of the J anney type comprisinga draw bar, a pivoted knuckle, a longitudinally yieldable plunger opposite the knuckle adapted to'recede to permit entry of a complementary coupling member, a locking pin positioned along side of said yieldable plunger and movable to a position tolie in the path of the tail of the knuckle to hold the knuckle=in closed position, said locking pin having a lateral play and the adjacent portion of said locking pin and plunger being provided with complementary portions adapted to interfit with each other when the knuckle is-placed under strain to hold "said plunger against longitudinal movement.

In testimony whereof I afiixmy signature two witnesses. CHARLES H. STARK. Witnesses:

J 0s. H. MrLANs, L. B. WINSBORO.

in presence of 

